LES and BPC
August 2007. The Launch Escape Subsystem was supposed to
pull the command module and the three astronauts away from the Saturn V in case
of an emergency during launch. The Boost Protective Cover protected the CM
during launch and was disposed of along with the LES at a certain time during
launch when neither were needed anymore.
The first pictures show how the cone for the BPC is made. Two pieces of
styrene are laminated with their joints 180 degrees apart. This keeps the cone
fairly circular. Small kinks may be corrected with the small cylinder glued to
the bottom part of the cone shown. The top of the BPC was made by heating a
piece of styrene and then denting it with the round end of a pen to get the
right shape.
The next ones
show the LES-rocket motor. The small holes in the long cylinder are the nozzles
of the LES jettison motor. The nozzles are made from styrene tubes that where
heated and widened with the sharp end of a pencil to make them conical. They
were inserted into the large cynlinder and sanded flush. The same mehtod was
used to make the nozzles for the four LES motors. The cover for these was made
in the same way as the BPC.
The next ones show the
LES-tower and a test fitting before all the parts are painted...
The last ones show the
completed BPC and LES after a coat of white and clear flat. Also, the two small
windows are installed.
